Friction clutch



A. H.-G. GIRLING- FRICTION CLUTCH.

- v APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1920; I I 1,437,412., Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEE] l- A. H. G. GIRLING. m CLUTCH.

Patented D66. 5, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEEY 2.

Paten'ted Dec. 5, 1922. V

umzo shares ALBERT HENRY GODFREY ermine, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

mama CLUTCH.

Application filed June 17,

I To all whom it may concern:

- A is carried fast on the engine-shaft B and --thrown out, by

Be it known that I, ALBERT HENRY Gonrnnr GIRLINe, a subject of the King of England, residing at London, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for friction clutches and has for its object, to provide an improved control-means therefor, one of the principal objects of which is to enable the clutch to be so built that it may at all times be brought into action gradually. The invention particularly applies to clutches for motor cars, though it is not restricted to this application. As is well known the ordinary coneclutches 'usedfor motor-cars are usually separating the cones against the action of a spring and are let in by reversing the movement of the operating member so that the spring causes the one cone-to be thrust against the other. It is often diflicult to so control the operat ing member that the cone which is on the driving shaft gradually picks up the cone on the driven shaft, so that the vehicle is started without shock. A friction clutch provided with the control mechanism hereinafter described can at'all times be gradually brought into operation, though the angles of the parts may be such, if desired, that this gradual clutching of the parts depends upon the rate of movement of the operating member; the prime object of the invention, however, is to provide a controlmechanism which is not dependent upon the rateof movement of the operating member for clutching.

In the accompanying drawings: Figures 1-4 are longitudinal sections through different forms of clutches constructed according to this invention, the section in each case being taken along the axis of rotation, and

H Figure 5 is an elevation of the clutch shown in Figure 4 viewed from the right of that figure.

Referring to Figure 1, the clutch member co-op'erates with a clutch-member C which is carried fast on a driven-shaft D. A spring E tends always to urge the clutch member C into operative engagement with the clutch member A.

a For separating the clutch members, a cone F is provided which can slide endwise- 1920. Serial No. 389,663.

A on the clutch member Aand another conical face C on the clutch-member C It will be seen from the above that the balls H constitute wedging bodies between the surfaces A and C of the clutch members and the face of the cone F. By driving the cone inwards by means of the lever G the balls are forced further away from the axis of rotation of the clutch and are thus further wedged in between the faces A and C so that the member C is displaced along the axis of rotation against the action of the spring E and is so disengaged from the clutch member A. The driven-shaft D must of course be provided with means for allowing of this axial movement. i

The surface of the cone F and the faces A and C preferably lie at such angles relatively to one another that when the cone F has been moved into the position for throwing the clutch out it will remain in this position after the lever G-has been released, unless one part is rotated relatively to the other, in which case the cone will be forced members A and C. The clutch is, therefore,.

ideal for smooth starting, as, if the cone 0 is stationeirly when the member G is released, the balls will quicklytravel to a position which permits the member A to'come into contact with the member C, and as this member is started and increases its speed, the displacement. of the balls and the further gripping of the one member with the other, will proceed more slowly until the two members rotate as a' solid body. When such a clutch is applied to a motor car, as

is well-known the clutch pedal is usually kept depressed when the clutch is disengagged, and released when the clutch is to e thrown in, and it will be appreciated from the above that the described clutch is particularly adapted for use on such vehicles.

In Figure 2 the spring E is shown as applied to the cone C instead of being placed, as the spring E is, where it bears directly against one of the clutch-members. The sprin thus tends at all times to thrust the cone 5 into position for clutching the parts and 0 together, and the angles of the parts in contact with the balls H are such that the cone will gradually come to its full clutching position, so that the pick-up of the one clutch-member by the other will take place gradually, as has already been described with reference to Figure 1. The operating lever G is employed to withdraw the cone against the action of its spring E It will be observed that the operating face of the cone C in this case is provided with two different angles; that which first comes into contact with the balls, when the parts are being clutched together, being steeper than that which follows.

In Figure 3 the cone member J takes theform of a sleeve having an internal conical surface which bears against the balls J These lie between inclined faces K and K of clutch-members K and K respectively which members are urged together by a spring L. When the operating member L is moved in the direction of the arrow, the balls J are forced towards the axis of rotation of the clutch, and separate the members K K On the release of the member L relative movement of the members K K will cause the cone .to move in such direction as to permit this ring of balls to again expand and the gripping members to come into contact with each other, the engagement of these members beinggradual as has already been described with reference to the members A and C of Figure 1.

A loading spring U may be provided for the lever L, so that there is always a slight tendency acted and no sli%p1ng would occur.

move the cone in the di-. rection for declutching the. grippmg-members. This spring should be of such strength that it would tend to allow of a little slip between the clutch-members K K at slow speeds, but at high speeds the centrifugal action of the balls J would tend to thrust the cone J inthe opposite directionto that in which the spring 1L would tend to move it, so that the action of this spring would be counter- The clutch. shown in gure 3 would therefore have the flexibility required at low speeds, and the piositive grip that is required at s.v igures 4 and the driving shaft is"- .Q being provided on a sleeve which is. fast with the shaft Q The parts are shown inFigures 1 and 5 in the clutching position. To declutchthem a lever S is moved in the direction of the arrow, so that 'it operates against a flan e on a sleeve R which has connected to it t e cone R The ballsR are thus forced outwards and are wedged in between the faces P and Q The sleeve which is provided with the face Q cannot move axially, as it is carried by the shaft Q which is provided with a thrust-bearing QP atone. end, so that all the movement of the balls has to be accommodated by the right-hand portion'of the clutch-member P which is thus forced in a direction away from the member Q against the, action of its springs P As shown in the drawing, the ball bearing at Q together with the ball bearing formed by the balls R and the conical face of the right band as has been described with reference to the balls H of Figure 1. A loading spring S may be provided for the lever S, so that there is always a slight tendency to move the cone 1 R in the direction for separating the clutch members P What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters atent *is 1. In a friction clutch, the combination of a pair of coaxial clutch members whereof one is movable axially in relation to the other, and each is in operative connection with a coaxial conical face arranged to form one with the other an annular groove, an axially movable sleeve having a conical face extending into the general plane of said groove, balls arranged in said groove in contact with said conical face on said sleeve and adapted to be forced into said groove to move one clutch member axially relatively to the other, a spring tending to move one of said clutch members axially in relation to the other into clutching engagement, and means members axially into a position wherein the said balls havedeclutched' the clutch members against the action of said spring, the sleeve will remain 1n lts position until rotary movement of one of said two coaxial conical faces takes place in relation to the sleeve.

2. In a friction clutch, the combination of a shaft having a coaxial conical face, a pair of coaxial clutch members whereof one is carried by said shaft, and one is movable axially in relation to the other and has a coaxial conical face arranged to form an annular groove with the former conical face, a spring tending to move one of said clutch in relation to the other into clutching engagement, a sleeve movable axially along said shaft and having a conical face extending into the general plane of said groove, b'allsarranged in said groove in contact with said conical face on said sleeve and adapted to be forced into said roove to move one clutch member relative y to the other against the action of said spring into a declutching position, and means for moving said sleeve along said shaft, said conical face on said sleeve being disposed at an angle of rest relatively to the said coaxial conical faces such that when said sleeve has declutched the clutch members, the sleeve will remain in its declutching position until rotary movement of one of said two coaxial conical faces takes-place in relation to the sleeve.

- spherical bearing,

3. In a friction clutch, the combination. of

a shaft having a coaxlal conical face, a clutch member carried by said shaft, a second clutch member coaxial with the first clutch member capable of an axial engaging movement-relatively thereto, and having a coaxial conicalface arranged to constitute with the former conical face an annular groove, a spring tending to move one of said clutch members axially in relation to the other, a sleeve movable axially along said shaft and having a conical face extending into the general plane of said groove, balls arranged in said groove in contact with said conical faceon said sleeve and adapted to be forced into said groove to niove said second clutch member relatively to the first, and means for moving said. sleeve along said shaft, said second clutch member having an annular bearing face that is coaxial with said shaft and is the end of the shaft, said bearing face and one of said conical faces constituting in effect a said conical face on said sleeve being disposed at such an angle in relation to the said coaxial conical faces that when said sleeve has been moved into a dearranged to bear against chit-(hing position wherein the said balls have declutched the clutch members against ti re action of the said spring, the sleeve will remain in its declutching position until rotary movement of one of saidtwo coaxial conical faces takes place in relation to the sleeve.

4. In a friction clutch, the combination of a shaft having a coaxial conical face, a clutch member carried by said shaft, a second clutch member coaxial with the first clutch member, capable of an axial engaging movement relatively thereto, and having a coaxial conical face arranged to constitute with the former conical face an annular groove, a spring tending to press said clutch members together, a sleeve movable axially along said shaft and having a conical face extending into the general plane of said groove, balls arranged in said groove in contact with said conical face on said sleeve, said balls and said conical faces cooperating therewith constituting a ball bearing, a

second ball bearing coaxial therewith provided between the end of said shaft and said second clutch member and constituting with the first ball bearing a spherical bearing, and means for moving said sleeve along said shaft, said conical faces on said sleeve being disposed at an angle of rest in relation to the said coaxial conical faces such that when said sleeve has been moved into a declutchv ing position wherein the said balls have declutched the clutch members against the action of said spring, the sleeve will remain in its declutching position until rotary mov ement of one of said two coaxial conical faces takes lace in relation to the sleeve.

5. n a friction clutch, the combination of a shaft having a coaxial conical face, a clutch member mounted to slide axially on said shaft, a two-part clutch member coaxial with and arranged to embrace the first clutch member and movable axially in rela-. tion thereto, one partof said two-part clutch member having a coaxial conical face arranged to. constitute with the former conical face an annular groove opening towards said shaft, a spring tending to press said clutch members together, a sleeve movable axially along. said shaft and having-a conical face extending into the general plane of said groove, balls arranged in said groove" in contact with said conical face on said sleeveand adapted to be forced into said groove to move said second clutch member relatively to the first, and means for moving said sleeve along said shaft, said conical faces 'on said sleeve being disposed at such an angle in relation to the said coaxial conical faces that when said sleeve has been moved into a declutching position wherein the said balls have declutched the clutch members against the action of said spring, thesleeve will remain in its declutching position until rotary movement of one of said two coaxial conical faces takes place in relation to the sleeve.

6. In a friction clutch, the combination of a shaft provided with a coaxial conical face, avclutch member carried by said shaft, :1 second clutch member coaxial with the first clutch member and movable axially relatively thereto and having a coaxial face arranged to constitute with the former conical face an annular groove, a spring tending to press said clutch members together, a sleeve movable axially along said shaft and having a conical face extending into the general plane of said groove. balls arranged in said groove in contact with the conical face on said sleeve and adapted to be forced into said groove to move said second clutchmember relatively to the first, means for movingsaid sleeve along said shaft and a spring operatively connected with said means and tending to move the same in a direction to declutch the clutch against the operation of said first spring, said conical face on said sleeve being disposed at an angle of rest in relation to the said coaxial conical faces such that when said sleeve has been moved into a declutchin'g position wherein .the said balls have declutched the ing clutch members, related conical surfaces, shafts for said clutch members, balls operatively related to said conical surfaces, means for forcing said balls between said conical surfaces toactuate said clutch members and holding'said members in the actuated position while at rest, and means for bringing said members into their original position automatically upon the rotation of one of said members relative to the other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALBERT HENRY GODFREY GIRLING. 

